The following guidance was issued by the House of Bishops.
CofE Key Roles and Responsibilities of Church Office Holders and Bodies Practice Guidance
In terms of safeguarding, with the incumbent the PCC will: Promote a safer church for all in the church community, and ensure there is a plan in place to raise awareness of, promote training and ensure that safeguarding is taken seriously by all those in the church community;
The Ecclesiastical Insurance Group has made it clear that their insurance cover is only valid where House of Bishops’ safeguarding policy and practice guidance is being followed.
The CofE Model Parish Safeguarding Policy
In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy the Parish will safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse.
CofE Safeguarding Learning & Development Framework 2024
It is expected that people work to achieve the required level of learning as soon as is practicable upon starting a new role…The required core safeguarding learning pathways should be a priority with Basic Awareness and Foundation being completed as part of an induction process and the remaining core pathways being completed within six months of an individual taking up a post.
People should be encouraged to engage with the required safeguarding learning for their roles. However, where this encouragement fails it is important to remind people that all current safeguarding policy and practice guidance has been approved by General Synod as Safeguarding Code and must be followed by all relevant persons.
This Code applies to people who have safeguarding responsibilities within the Church, including all authorised clergy, bishops, archdeacons, licensed readers and lay workers, churchwardens, members of parochial church councils and cathedral chapters.
Failure by a member of the clergy to comply with a requirement is an act or omission which may constitute misconduct under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 (‘CDM’). Failure by a Reader or lay worker to comply with a requirement would be grounds for the revocation of that Reader’s or lay worker’s licence by the bishop, and failure by a churchwarden, members of parochial church council or cathedral chapter could result in an investigation being conducted by the Charity Commission and the person being disqualified as a charity trustee. If a volunteer is in a role that requires them to undertake safeguarding learning, they should not be allowed continue in that role if they refuse to complete the required learning.
Some of the required attendees listed in this code are not themselves "relevant persons”, for example, PCC members, diocesan, cathedral and parish staff, ordinands, bellringers. Where that is the case, the relevant 'requirement' under section 5A of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 is imposed on the person or body who authorises or permits the required attendee to undertake duties or activities, or the body to which the required attendee belongs. For example, where the required attendee is a PCC member, the requirement is imposed on the PCC and is a requirement for the PCC to take all reasonable steps to ensure that its members undertake the relevant training. Where the required attendee is a volunteer (such as a bellringer), the requirement is imposed on the body - e.g. the cathedral Chapter or the PCC - which appoints or employs that person.
View the Church of England webpage
Diocese of Chelmsford: A Handbook for Ecclesiastical Office Holders
All office holders are expected to participate in safeguarding and refresher training. Failure to do so may give rise to disciplinary action under the Clergy Discipline Measure.
Church of England: Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy
The clergy are required to have appropriate and current training in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Failure to participate may result in action being taken under the Clergy Discipline Measure.
Ministry in retirement is subject to the bishop granting a Licence or Permission To Officiate, and subject to the completion of safeguarding clearance and training.
View the Church of England webpage